There’s something to be said for working at home. Conference calls in your pajamas, not having to put on shoes, any time is snack time. It sounds great…until your free space has become work space. Suddenly being able to take a quick break from work whenever turns into your live-in break space becoming a live-in work space. So if you’re like me and aren’t flying off to some private tropical getaway, these are my top tips for planning a refreshing “stay-cation” so you can take a break from your work-away-from work.
Planning Time!
A vacation doesn’t plan itself – and neither does a stay-cation! Like every good trip, you need a plan and supplies. Start with some food and beverage planning! Nothing makes me feel like I’m escaping my day-to-day like a special tropical cocktail. Getting some fun meals planned and prepped and some drinks to fit your vacation style of choice are one of the best ways to help you get in the mood. I like to get tropical with mine so my list looks a little bit like this:
- Coconut rum (obviously)
- Pineapple (a nice fresh one if I can get it)
- Either a variety of fresh fruits or a fruit platter (and yes, this is separate from the pineapple)
- Novelty cup for my drinks (every vacation needs a souvenir)
- Ingredients for surf’n’turf and shrimp cocktail
- Drink mixes
If you’re not much for a tropical getaway, pick things that remind you of your favorite vacation spot. More of a mountains-and-snow kind of person, pick up some cider and cinnamon whiskey or cocoa and cream liquor and a fun new mug; get some steak and potatoes, or venison if you can get it, research some local recipes, and capture your favorite tastes from that area. Get ready for as authentic a vacation as you can create.
This leads me to step two…
Finish all your work ahead of time
Nothing ruins a vacation like having to break away from the fun to finish up some project that didn’t quite get completed on Thursday. If you were still working at your normal workplace, would you have left that unfinished? No way! Make sure you have as few excuses to interrupt your stay-cation as possible by completing all work related tasks before you turn your home into a private getaway.
This also means don’t do anything work related during this time. If necessary, check your email twice a day. But if you wouldn’t do it on vacation, don’t do it now. Close your office door. Pretend that room doesn’t even exist! Put your laptop away and hide anything that reminds you of work. The nagging thoughts of work you could be doing will ruin any relaxing moment you have. You wouldn’t bring that paperwork with you to Cabo, so don’t bring it on your stay-cation!
“Pack” your suitcase
This one may be the most important part. Snag a couple of outfits out of your closet that fit the theme of your vacation and set them out. Instead of getting up and sorting through your whole closet of year-round clothes, pull out some short-shorts, swimwuit, crop top, sandals, anything you’d wear when you go to the beach. If you’re not a beach-goer, grab your cozy sweaters and cute booties and knit hats to put together your mountain hideaway look. Getting up and putting on “vacation clothes” will get your mind ready for a day of something fun and different. Plus getting out of your pjs is a huge boost to your mental health and energy levels.
Plan your itinerary
This one is the most flexible. For me, I’m picking up an inflatable pool and a fun floatie for lounging outside and pretending I’m in a much more exotic location. It doesn’t have to be expensive – less than $80 for most options at your local big box store (sidenote: make sure you’re making the most of a trip to the store and make as few trips as possible. I’d try to get all groceries and vacation accessories in one go. An inflatable pool is definitely NOT a necessity but if you’re already going to the store, go grab one! I just happen to have wanted one for months before this whole thing came about). Winter-lovers, now is the perfect time to check out the clearance decor for some seasonal accents. So how do you plan your itinerary for a stay-cation? Like this!
- Day One
- Sleep in!
- Mimosas at the pool
- Lunch and nap
- Water gun fight with my dog (and partner, if I can get him into it!)
- Surf’n’turf and 50 First Dates private screening
- Day Two
- Smoothie breakfast
- More pool time!
- Shrimp cocktail lunch break
- Mani/pedi time
- Sunset yoga
- Candlelit outdoor dinner, weather permitting
- Fire pit and s’mores to follow
Some of this depends on things I already have (patio table and chairs, fire pit) and the weather permitting (check the weather when planning!) but now is about making the most of what you have. Laying out a towel and wearing a floppy sunhat can replace a patio set or you can move indoors for a bit. It’s all about making the most of what you have right now!
Set the Scene
This is my favorite part! I happen to have a few cheap wireless speakers I’ve acquired during my college years and have obviously never gotten rid of. I like to use multiple speakers to layer different sounds (you can also use multiple tabs on your laptop to do this same trick; I just like to have background sounds and music coming from different places). I use background noise generators to play sounds like a beachscape – waves, wind, seagulls! – and then find a tropical playlist to set the mood. You can’t tell how big the pool is or how far away the waves are when your eyes are closed and you’re lounging with a piña colada in your hand.
I also like to mimic the scents of a beach vacay with lotions and candles. Making yourself smell like a tropical destination helps the feeling follow you all day and lighting some great candles (my favorite is the Sun and Sand candle by Yankee Candle!) helps your mind stay away from the fact that you’re still at home. Try to get scents that you don’t normally use to helps distance yourself from your normal life. The bonus to this is next time you light those candles or smell that lotion, you’ll be reminded of your tropical getaway! If you’re not into the beach, pick up some woodsy scents instead.
Not into these vacation ideas?
No problem! You have no idea how hard it was for me to even think about doing anything else vacation-wise besides sun-and-sand time! I get not everyone dreams about living in a beachfront shack and that’s okay. Try to figure out your favorite things about your vacation destination of choice and see how you can replicate those on your own. If you like nature-based vacations, find a local nature reserve or trail system that is still open; treat your home like a cabin. Maybe you love camping. If you’ve got a tent, set that thing up in the backyard! There are tons of things you can do at home (or close to home) that keep you healthy but help you escape. Plan the vacation you want to go on!
Try it out!
Let me know how your next stay-cation goes! Where did you escape to? Share your itineraries, meal plans, and favorite drinks and what things you would do differently on your next “trip”. If you’ve got kids, pets, or a partner, how did you get them involved? Don’t forget, it’s all about having fun!
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